“You know, most fae who want to sneak into the army do it because the wood king wouldn’t let them join when they volunteered.” He took another sip of the whiskey. “He called them too weak, too young, too old, too thin. They want to prove themselves to him so that he doesn’t drink the blood of their families. He tends to pick the ones who displease him.”
“What a lovely reason to serve,” Reyna said dryly.
Rhain shrugged. “Not my place to judge. They have to do what they need to do in order to save their families. Which begs the question…why doyouwant in?”
“I hate the shadow fae,” she lied. “The Ice Court is too busy with northern politics. This is the only way I can fight them.”
He chuckled. “Try again.”
“The truth may be twisted but never false.”
“Unless you have Fomorian blood running through your veins.” He leaned closer and took a long drag of air with one flared nostril. “And I can smell it on you.”
Her heart shuddered. She blinked and sat back. “You’re wrong.”
“Hmm.” He tapped her tankard with his fingernail and then pushed it closer. “Just because you don’t know about it doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Maybe it’s time you had a drink.”
Heart roaring in her ears, Reyna curled her fingers around the tankard and lifted it to her lips. The harsh scent swirled into her nose, clearing her fuzzy head. She tipped the liquid into her mouth. It burned all the way down.
“I don’t have Fomorian blood,” she said, wincing as she slammed the cup back onto the table. “Trust me. It’s impossible.”
“And trust me, itis.” He lifted his finger and motioned for Suse to refill their drinks. “I know this, because I have it, too. There are a few others out there like us, mostly wood and ice fae. A result of the trade routes between us and them.”
“But my father—” Reyna quickly stopped herself. It was one thing for this fae to know she was made of ice and quite another for him to discover she was a princess. She cleared her throat. “He can trace our line back centuries. There are no Fomorians.”
He shrugged. “Likely your mother then.”
“But—”
“Listen, I’ll make you a deal. You tell me the truth about why you want inside the army, and I’ll pretend you never put that airgead on the bar. I’ll let you go.”
Reyna drew a shaky breath into her lungs. Despite it all, she might have a chance. Or he might make good on his threat and chop off her head.
Seelie’s magic was keeping her alive, but Reyna did not think the power could healthat.
“You won’t want to let me go when you hear why I’m here.”
He leaned forward, whiskey swirling from his breath. “Try me.”
Reyna’s lips curled as she copied his move. “I want to kill your king.”
The wood fae smiled.
* * *
The cart jerked to a stop. The horse neighed as Rhain leaned forward and patted her on the rump. The small display of affection brought a lump to Reyna’s throat. It had been a very long time since she’d seen Enbarr, her loyal mare. She hoped she was not still stuck inside the Air Court stables. Had she managed to escape, like Eislyn had?
“Here we are,” Rhain said, motioning to the dense forest that rose up around them. “This here is the northern edge of the Forest of Thorns. It’s been all but destroyed a few miles south, but up here it’s still intact. You’ll find the back end of the war camp half a day’s walk from here.”
“And they won’t notice a stranger slip out of the woods?” Reyna asked.
“Some of the tents are inside the forest, just along the edge. If you’re careful, no one will spot anything odd at all. You’ll just need to steal some armor.”
Reyna nodded, nervously wetting her lips. This was it. She’d made it to the Wood Court’s war camp despite all the odds stacked against her. Now, all she had to do was the easy part: stab someone.
Preferably the king.
With a nod, Reyna jumped off the cart and into the mud. She pulled down the sleeves of her drab brown-and-green tunic that Rhain had given her to blend in with the trees. Her ice glass dagger was hidden beneath the waistband, and green-dyed mud painted her cheeks.
